You never know who you'll meet on a summer abroad. Photo / Antarctica New Zealand, Tom Arnold
You never know who you'll meet on a summer abroad. Photo / Antarctica New Zealand, Tom Arnold
Looking for a change of scenery? Spending a summer abroad is a fantasy many travellers share, but few think of spending it in Antarctica.
Antarctica New Zealand is offering 40 places on what might be the world's most exotic sabbatical.
As the current seasonal occupants of Scott Base prepare to come home for winter, the Antarctic programme is already hiring for next summer.
Located at the tip of Ross Island it's a permanent base for science in the most remote corner of the world. However it's not scientists Antarctica ANZ is looking for but a host of other support roles on the ice.
"These roles make our corner of Antarctica run – we keep people warm and fed, and keep the lights, water and heating on," says Megan Nicholl, GM for Communications and People.
This round of recruitment is looking for chefs, carpenters, electricians, medics and mechanics, among other roles. Nicholl describes it as an important part of "protecting the planet" establishing a base for climate science.
"Our crew provide the lifelines for scientific teams and data collection – that's why we're there."
While most roles require a commitment from August 2022 to February 2023, they are all for a fixed term over summer.
There are many specialised roles, but most job descriptions are extremely broad. Ayana Piper-Healion is currently serving on Scott Base as a 'Domestic'.
"I'm down here supporting science by cleaning the toilet," she laughs.
Scott Base team train for a fire drill at the base. Photo / Ross Land, Antarctica New Zealand
It's a diverse role she said a recent interview with BFM radio, serving as everything from cleaner, housekeeper to fire fighter. The fire safety element was something of a surprise, surrounded by sea ice.
"It's so dry. There are all these unexpected shocks around base because it's ungrounded," she explains. "You get shocks through the springs when making beds."
She says she has the best job on the base for the camaraderie.
As the manager for the base's social committee, she says it's not all hard work.
"Parties have been fantastic," she says, hanging out at the storied Tatty Flag bar. Recently completing the Ross Island Marathon, she described it as one of the best days she's had in Antarctica. The run between bases in McMurdo Sound was one of the events she help take place.
"We lucked in with a beautiful day, around -9 degrees," she said.
To keep Scott Base running you need all the roles that you would in a small village, but it's not a humdrum experience. Driving between stations in a Haaglund, she said was "like something out of Star Wars."
Something out of Star Wars: A Haaglund drives across the Ross shelf, Antarctica. Photo / Antarctica New Zealand, James Hammilton
Hosting science projects across the season from all over the world is also a sci-fi experience. One team of scientists from NASA, she says, were training to send their robot to one of Jupiter's moons.
When not working there are plenty of pastimes. Getting in the spirit of the Winter Olympics, Ayana says they have set up a makeshift ski field and buffed out a curling rink on the ice.
Her parting advice to those planning to take up a job on Scott Base is make the most of cheap phone calls back home - there's no international dialling costs from New Zealand numbers - and pick the brains of everyone you meet.
The Ross Island Marathon is one of the more extreme social events held for Scott Base workers. Photo / Luke Keehan, Antarctica New Zealand
From witnessing month-long sunsets to seeing whales visit during a rare ice breakout at the base, the stationing in Antarctica has been filled with memorable experiences.
Her last day in Antarctica is on Friday, when she is due to fly back to Christchurch.
"We had our flag ceremony and official changeover to the winter team last week and I'm getting sentimental in my last few days."
